Photo Dynamic Therapy
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Contact Details:
Logan Skin Clinic
Unit 2/13-21 Mayes Avenue
(PO Box 284)
Logan Central QLD 4114
Ph: (07) 3808 8444
Fx: (07) 3808 9288
E/Mail:
peter.elliott@loganskin.com.au
johng@loganskin.com.au
admin@loganskin.com.au
Hours of Operation
Monday to Friday
8.30am - 7.00pm
How does it work?
PDT is used for the treatment of some types of superficial skin cancers and pre-malignant skin conditions, such as solar keratoses. It works basically like this:
The doctor discusses the treatment with the patient, and outlines the area/s to be treated with a marking pen;
This area of skin is then cleaned by the nursing staff, then any crusts or scabs are soaked and scratched off;
A special dye, 5–amino-laevulinic acid (5-ALA) is dabbed on the skin cancer, and a small margin of the normal tissue surrounding it;
A protective dressing is then applied (normally to keep sunlight out) and the patient leaves the clinic for 4 or 6 hours. During this time, the 5-ALA dye is soaked up by the skin cancer cells;
On return to the clinic after the prescribed time, the dressing is removed, the skin re-cleaned, the lesion size checked with a “Wood’s Light” (harmless blue light to help clearly define the tumour margins) and then the patient is placed under the Omnilux (PDT) lamp, which uses a special frequency of red light, and can be programmed for various treatment size areas;
The light penetrates the skin to a depth of 5-6mm, and reacts with a by-product of the 5-ALA, which concentrates only in the cancerous cells. This destroys them, but has no effect on the normal surrounding tissue.
After 15-20 minutes of treatment, a light occlusive dressing is applied, and the patient can leave the clinic. The lesion must be kept covered with the light occlusive dressing for a minimum of 48 hours, as the skin area treated will be very susceptible to burning by natural light or sunshine in this time. There might be some inflammation, itching, crusting and weeping which generally clears up in 5 to 10 days.
Therefore No Surgery, No Scarring, No Knives, Proven Results, No Local Anaesthetic!!
Exact Prices are given at time of Booking but a rough guide is as follows:
Pension, Health Care Card & Veteran Affairs' Bulk billed for the Treatment but need to pay for the 5-ALA cream cost, depending on the size of the lesion, $75-$200. (Some Private Health Funds do rebate part of the cream cost)
Private Patients pay $123.85 for the Treatment (Medicare rebate $106.80 of that) and then the 5-ALA cream cost, depending on the size of the lesion, $75-$200. (Some Private Health Funds do rebate part of the cream cost)
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